GRACULIN^E. STURNUS. 117 



small, lower eyelids partly bare. Nostrils ovate, operculate. 

 Head ovato-oblong, of moderate size ; neck short ; body com- 

 pact ; tarsus moderate, compressed, with seven anterior scu- 

 tella, thin-edged behind ; first toe stouter, lateral toes about 

 equal ; claws moderately stout, much compressed, laterally 

 grooved, arched, acute. Plumage compact, splendent ; fea- 

 thers on the nasal sinus recurved, on the head and neck lan- 

 ceolate ; wrings of moderate length, with the first quill very 

 small and slender, the second slightly shorter than the third, 

 which is longest ; tail short, straight, emarginate, and slightly 

 rounded. 



The Starlings are of small size, gregarious, and insecti- 

 vorous. They belong to the Old Continent, but are closely 

 allied to the genus Sturnella, which is peculiar to America, 

 and forms the transition to the conic -billed granivorous 

 birds. 



\/ 58. STURNUS GUTTATUS. SPOTTED STARLING. 



Adult male with the feathers of the head and neck lanceo- 

 late and acuminate, of the other parts broader but tapering ; 

 the general colour black with splendent blue and purple tints ; 

 all the feathers, unless on the head and fore neck, with a trian- 

 gular white spot at the tip ; bill pale yellow ; feet light red- 

 dish-brown. In spring the feathers more attenuated, their 

 white tips diminished. Female with the feathers as in the 

 male, but broader, and tipped with broader spots, of which 

 those on the upper parts are light brown, on the lower white ; 

 bill dusky, feet reddish-brown. Young of a uniform greyish- 

 brown colour ; bill brownish-black, feet dusky. 



Male, 9J, 151, 5.2., 11 i? 10, .*_. Female, 9 1, 15|. 



The Starling is generally distributed in Britain, but local. 

 It is nowhere more common than in tfie northern and western 

 Isles of Scotland, where it breeds in caves, crevices of rocks, 

 and holes in the turf. In more southern parts it nestles in 

 hollow trees, old buildings, and rocks. The eggs, from four to 

 six, are of a somewhat elongated oval form, glossy, of a very 

 pale greenish-blue, an inch and a quarter long, ten-twelfths 

 in breadth. It is gregarious, flies with considerable rapidity, 

 walks and runs with ease, searches the pastures for worms, 

 larvae, and insects, is fond of attending cattle and sheep, on 

 which it sometimes perches. Its song is pleasant, and when 

 tamed it can be taught to whistle tunes, and even to imitate 

 words. 



